Learn How to Prevent Fires in Your Garage
Would it surprise you to know that there are more than 6,600 fires in American garages every year? Would it further surprise you that these garage fires lead to more than 30 deaths, 400 injuries, and upwards of $457 million in property loss on average? As you can see, this is a serious problem and yet many garage door manufacturers and installers will never mention a word about it. Here are some fire prevention tips from Dynamic Garage Door to help keep you and your home safe.
Don’t store combustible materials in your garage
If it’s possible, keep gas cans, propane tanks, and other extremely flammable materials out of your garage. Ideally, you’d store these items in a shed that’s a safe distance from the house. In the event they caught fire – and caught the shed on fire – the risk of your house catching on fire wouldn’t be as high as it would be if your garage caught fire.
If you don’t have a better option than leaving flammable materials in your garage, make sure you store them away from any appliances – especially refrigerators. Don’t plug more than one appliance into any single outlet, and never use extension cords to plug in your appliances. And yes, this includes garage door openers.
If you’re using small electric tools that have three-prong cords, never buy convertors that plug into a two-prong outlet. That third prong is there for a reason – to ground the tools and prevent fires.
Choose a garage that is at a lower risk for catching fire
The above tips will help you after you have your garage built but if you’re still in the process, then these tips will help you ensure your garage is as safe as possible. First, be sure that the door that goes from your home to your garage has a fire rating of at least 20 minutes. If there’s a bedroom above your garage then ensure that gypsum board is installed in both the walls and ceiling.
If an attic is built over your garage, install an attic hatch cover and keep it closed all the time. Make sure there’s a smoke detector about eight feet above the floor and close to the access door that goes to the house.
Work with a garage door installer who can help
If you follow these tips then you’ll be have a much lower chance of experiencing a garage fire. Remember that most fires are caused by electrical issues including damaged wires, overloaded electric outlets, and improper connections. When you turn to Dynamic Garage Door, you can count on us to install your garage door the right way. We also offer innovative, cost-effective options like steel garage doors that won’t burn the same way a wood door would. For more information, call us today at 855-343-3667.
